Automatic parking-light switch



Feb. 11, 1930. J, A SAR-[ELLE 1,746,907

AUTOMATIC PARKING LIGHT SWITCH filed Apil 18, 1927 Illllllllllllllllllmmm I Illllll llllllIllllllIl-Illlllll Patented Feb. 11, 193@waste JAMES A. SARTELLE, F LANCASTER, MASSACHUSETTS AUTOMATICPARKING-LEGI-IT SVITCH Application led April 18,

This invention relates to a device which can be set for any hour andwill operate to turn on the parking lights of an automobile or any otherdesired electrical device at that hour without any further attention.

The principal object of the invention is to provide mechanism foraccomplishing the above mentioned purpose, so that a person leaving anautomobile in the day-time,

l0 knowing that ie will have to stay away unt-il after dark, can havehis parking lights start to burn at any time he desires and will nothave to leave the lights on in the day-time, thus ruiming down hisbattery. The invention is capable of other analogous uses. The inventionalso involves combinations of parts and features of construction as willappear hereinafter. l

Reference is t0 be had to the accompanying drawings in which F ig. 1 isa central sectional view of the operating mechanism in its preferredform and showing in elevation other elements which are to be used inconnection with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of the contact element of the device;

Fig. 3 is a front view showing the parts in neutral position; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the parts set to have the lights go onat a certain time.

It is an inconvenience for many people7 who have to park theirautomobiles for several hours, to have to go back and turn on 5 theparking lights at dark. This is a matter of so much inconvenience thatmany of them leave the lights burning for several hours in nay-light inorder that they will be sure that they will be on when it grows dark.This involves the running down of the battery and the loss of energyv inthat way. By the present invention these diculties are avoided.

This invention involves the use of a clock 5 10 of any ordinary kindmounted on the dash and with it a dial 11 on the dash just above itpreferably. The face of the clocl- 12 is shown just below the dial 11.The dial is provided with a pointer 13 mounted on a knurled head 14 andboth are secured on a 19537. Serial No. 184,612.

shaft 15. The shaft 15 is connected by gears 16 all of the same size toa hollow hub 17 of a contact member 13. The shafts are insulated fromthe supporting casing 36. This contact member is shown as ofcylindrical. cup-shane and is made of vulcanized fiber or any otherstrong and durable insulating material. @n the outside it is providedwith a conducting ring 19 extending all the wav around it and on theinside with a conducting strip 2O extending preferably two-thirds of theway around it. These two curved strips are riveted together through theflange of the member 13, thus connecting them electrically.

It is to be understood that this contact member 18 is adapted to beturned by the knob 14 with the pointer 13 as will appear from acomparison of Figs. 3 and 4. Tn Fig. 3 the parts are set at Zero orneutral, and the conducting strip 2O is shown with its end at thetwelfth hour on the clock face 12. TWhen the pointer 13 is turned aroundto 8 on the dial, the strip 2O is turned around to the position shown in4. This can be done irrespective of the time if the operator wishes hislights to go on at eight oclock. The time at which the instrument is setis indicated in these two figures as five minutes past five, but thesetting will be no different no matter what the time. The object is tohave the clock run and turn a contact spring 27 with the hour hand andat eight oclock bring the contact spring 27 around into contact. withthe conducting strip 20 to make a circuit so that the lights will go onat that time.

F or this purpose7 the shaft 21 of the clock is shown as having a. gear22 meshing with a gear 29 for driving a shaft 23 which is concentricwith the contact member 1S and the hub thereof. This shaft 23 throughalarge gear shown on that shaft is provided with a cup-shaped contact 24which rotates with it preferably, and is also provided with a flatinsulating disc 25 which has a conducting arm 26 from the hub 24 to theedge of the disc where it is provided with the Contact spring 27 whichis spring-pressed and will engage the contact strip 20. This disc, it

Will be seen, rotates with the clock and at the'same speed as the hourhand, the gearing being so designed.

Projecting into the cup-shaped contact 24 is a. light spring contactmember 30 on a stud 3l on which the hub of the contact member 18ismounted and from which it is insulated by a bushing 32. The end of thisstud 31 is connected With one end of the line 83 which is connected upwith the parking lights and the battery so as to turn them on Whenevercircuit is completed. The other line 34 is connected with a block 35insulated from the casing 36 in which these parts are mounted, andhaving a contact brush 37 which c onstantlyvengages the external ring`19.

AItyWill be seen that When the spring 27 is in engagement withthe strip20 there will be a vcurrent -from the line 33, stud 3l, contacts 30 and24, arm 26, spring 27 to the strip 2O.'` The ring 19 is always inContact with the b rusllf and line 34 and is connected with the strip20; by the rivets.

Itv Vwill be understood also that after the contactniember 18 is onceset as indicated in Fig-. 4, this-remains stationary and the disc25,-rotates slowly'vvith the hour hand of the clock.V Therefore, duringthe time when the spring 27 is not in engagement With the strip 20 thereWill be no lighting current as the circuitvvill' be broken at thatpoint, but when the spring 27 comes around into contact with the strip2O the circuit will be completed and the lights Will burn for eighthours'unless shut olf. In-this Way the operator can leave his car and,as'long as the clock is Wound up and going,he will be sure that theparking lights Will'be turned on at any time he may desire andl Willcontinue to` burn all night if necessary. A snap switch is used to cutthis circuit When it is not to be used, as usual.

This constitutes a simple and inexpensive device for accomplishing theseimportant results. With the strip 20 extending tvvo thirds of the Wayaround the contact member 18, the device can be set to light up thelamps four hours or less afterthe time at which the user leaves his car.There are only a few parts driven by the clock and the contact makingdevices pressing on them are light and apply only a light springpressure so no material burden is thrown on the Works of the clock;

This invention can be used as a time switch for-other purposes and I donot Wish to be limited -to the turningon of parking lights, althoughthat is theprincipal use `for1Which the invention is designed.

Ajlthoughl have illustrated'and described only' al single formofthe'invention I. am a-W-are of-thefa'ctg, that changes can be madetherein by'anyv person skilled in the art-Without depart-ing from thescope of the invention asf-expressedfin the claim.-

Th'erefore I do not Wish-to` be limited-to the @echtem shown, bet-.Wham@lo .claim 'is :ff

and a spring contact in engagment With the` conducting ring forconnecting lthe conducting ring constantly With the other side of saidcircuit.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

JAMES A. SARTELLE.

